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Advantage Gladbach after away win against Young Boys

vor 2 StundenBorussia Mönchengladbach take three priceless away goals back home with them ahead of the second league after victory in Switzerland.

Summary

Gladbach have one foot in UEFA Champions League group stage after 3-1 win.

Striker Raffael nets a brace to put the Foals in control.

Substitute Hahn also on the scoresheet.

It was a case of three and easy for Borussia Mönchengladbach as Andre Schubert’s side put themselves in a commanding position in their UEFA Champions League play-off tie with BSC Young Boys courtesy of a 3-1 win in the first leg in Berne.

Aiming to book their place in the UEFA Champions League group stages for a second consecutive season, Gladbach got off to a perfect start when Raffael skipped across the edge of the box before slamming an effort into the bottom corner.

Operating in a new-look 3-5-2 formation, the visitors were in complete control of proceedings with Thorgan Hazard going closest to adding a second. The Fohlenelf did, however, almost concede an equaliser on the stroke of half-time when Guillaume Hoarau struck just wide from close range.

Substitute Andre Hahn got on the scoresheet within moments of entering the pitch in the second half.

The scores were level just over ten minutes after the restart though, when a well worked move saw Yoric Ravet’s drilled cross turned in by Miralem Sulejmani. Conceding stole some of Gladbach’s impetus, but their one-goal advantage was restored when Andre Hahn poked home less than a minute after coming off the bench.

Raffael’s deflected volley completed the quickfire double just before the 70-minute mark and ultimately closed out the scoring as Gladbach put themselves firmly in control of the tie.

Man of the match

Without a recognised striker in their ranks, Raffael and Hazard both impressed up front as they led the Gladbach line, but it was the Brazilian who bagged a fine brace and will deservedly take the plaudits for another sparkling performance.

Talking point

While a 15-minute period of complacency that threatened to cost his side control of the fixture will no doubt rankle with head coach Schubert, his charges got the job done and, with three away goals to their name, will be understandably confident of closing out the tie on home soil.